Russia Burns Nearly Half Its Budget on War as Revenue Drops, Anger Grows at Home

Russia has allocated 46% of its total budget to military spending, a 30% increase that contradicts earlier pledges to cut defense costs, according to a new assessment by the Institute for the Study of War [172749]. The increase comes as government revenue falls, straining the economy further [172749]. On the battlefield, Ukrainian drones are hitting targets deep inside Russian territory, including residential areas near Moscow [168609]. Residents in cities like Zelenograd and Khimki report waking to explosions and buzzing drones overhead, with one woman describing how a loud blast hit near her apartment after she thought the danger had passed [168609]. These strikes are causing fear and anger among a population that once supported the war, and discontent is growing as the conflict enters its neighborhoods [168609].

Russia’s military advance has stalled and in some areas reversed, with the country reportedly losing 30,000 soldiers each month [172793]. To rebuild its tank fleet, Moscow has revived old Soviet engines previously considered unrecoverable, but the drones that destroyed the original tanks continue to patrol the battlefield, keeping much of the new armor idle [172747]. Analysts warn that a desperate President Vladimir Putin, facing a war that has lasted longer than World War I, may escalate the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders, with options ranging from cyberattacks to nuclear war [172793]. Meanwhile, Norway’s top military commander has warned that Russia could be ready to launch a new war within two to three years after the conflict in Ukraine ends, urging NATO allies to accelerate defense efforts [170272].